I first started my musical life as a cornet player aged eight, followed by a brief glimpse into the tenor horn world before settling on the french horn aged 11. I can’t say it was love at first sight (or note!) as the horn lent to me by my school was old, smelly and not in the best general condition. As time went on I really started to appreciate my old horn and enjoyed playing it, especially whilst performing with my friends in school and county ensembles. It was the social aspect of music making that I enjoyed and still enjoy the most to this day. I progressed to National Youth Arts Wales ensembles, where I made some of my most cherished musical memories.
Whilst visiting different conservatoires for their open days, I felt most at home at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where I went on to study for four years for my undergraduate degree, followed by a brief stint at the Royal College of Music for my master's degree.
After completing my master's, I spent a year living in China where I taught horn and music classes at Wycombe Abbey International School, Changzhou. I learnt so much in a short amount of time about teaching, and gained a vast amount of experience from living in a new, foreign place with its own unique and completely different culture. I adored living in China and spent my holidays travelling around China and its neighbouring countries. My absolute favourite place was Chengdu. As a lover of spicy food it was fantastic.
Having taken some time off the horn I was made more aware of how much being a performing musician meant to me and I moved back to the UK. Since returning, I have been building up my freelance work which has included working with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, touring to Morocco with Welsh National Opera, Royal Northern Sinfonia and playing in West End Musical, The Lion King. I am delighted to take up a fellowship position with Southbank Sinfonia for 2020.
Outside of music I am an avid Cardiff Blues and Wales rugby fan and in my spare time I love baking sourdough bread and also running! I’m running the London Marathon in April for the charity Mind which I’m super excited about.
Royal College of Music
London, UK
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
London, UK
What is your favourite piece of music and why do you love it?
At the moment, I’m cycling through Vulfpeck albums and Live at Madison Square Gardens in particular so I’d probably say anything by them. They bring a huge amount of energy to their music that I’m sure we can learn from in classical music.
Where’s your favourite place to listen to music and why?
Anywhere really mundane. On the tube, train, bus and especially in supermarkets. There’s something I enjoy about listening to some amazing music in otherwise dreary scenarios and it makes me notice interesting things in the music that I might have missed if I was too focused on a brilliant view or something…
Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us.
I love gardening and especially growing vegetables, mainly tomatoes and chillies that are far too hot to actually eat.
Jack is a member of the 2020-2021 fellowship.